Paneling structures



1966 P. F. HALSEY ETAL 3,232,006

ELIN

Filed July 9, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS PAUL F. HALS EY DANIELC.TEV\S BY WM m) (54):-

ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1966 P. HALSEY ETAL PANELING STRUCTURES 4 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed July 9, 1963 INVENTORS PAUL F. HALSEY DANIEL C. TEVIS ATTORNEYNov. 1, W66 P. F. HALSEY ETAL FANELING STRUCTURES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledJuly 9, 1963 INVENTORS PAUL F. HALSEY DANIEL C.TEV|S Nov. 1, 1966 P. F.HALSEY ETAL PANELING STRUCTURES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 9, 1963INVENTORS PAUL F. HALSEY DANIEL C.TEVIS ATTORNEY United States Patent3,282,006 PANELING STRUCTURES Paul F. Halsey, 8014 E. Gilbert, andDaniel C. Tevis, 3740 Sleepy Hollow, both of Wichita, Kane. Filed July9, 1963, Ser. No. 293,724 2 Claims. (til. 52-475) This invention relatesto new and useful improvements in paneling structures such as may beused for partitions, room dividers, enclosures, or the like, and theprincipal object of the invention is to provide related structuralcomponents which may be quickly and easily assembled into a panel unitof a desired size and type, such a panel unit being usable either singlyor in multiples and being readily removable so that when several panelunits are connected together, any one of them may be convenientlyremoved and replaced by another.

The panel unit in accordance with the invention embodies a panel memberand frame members which surround and support the edges of the panelmember, an important feature of the invention residing in forming theframe members from a hollow extrusion with channelled sides to receivethe panel member as well as cliplike elements for connecting the framemembers together.

Some of the frame members of the panel unit are vertically disposed, andanother important feature of the invention resides in the provision ofmeans at the upper and lower ends of the vertical frame members forengaging the ceiling and the floor, whereby to support the panel unit ina desired position without the use of nails, screws, or the like.

Other advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity ofconstruction, in its sturdiness, and in its adaptability to convenientand economical manufacture.

With the foregoing more important object and features in view and suchother objects and features as may become apparent as this specificationproceeds, the invention will be understood from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whereinlike characters of reference are used to designate like parts andwherein:

FIGURE 1 is a group fragmentary isometric view of some of the componentsof the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of two vertical frame members connectedtogether by a clip;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantiallyin the plane of the line 3-3 in FIG.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the connectionof a horizontal frame member to a vertical frame member;

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of the end cap used in the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view on a reduced scale of a verticalframe member with floor and ceiling engaging means;

FIGURE 7' is a view, partly in vertical section and partly in elevationof a vertical frame member with a modified embodiment of the floor andceiling engaging means;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantiallyin the plane of the line 8-8 in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional detail, taken substantially inthe plane of the line 9-9 in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional detail of a side portionof FIGURE 9 on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly insection of a vertical frame member with another modified form of theceiling engaging means;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly insection, taken from the side of FIGURE 11 and showing two of thevertical frame members with the ceiling engaging means; and

FIGURES l3 and 14 are diagrammatic elevations on a reduced scale,showing various different panel units such as may be constructed withthe invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, FIGURE 1illustrates the construction of a panel unit which comprises arectangular panel member 10 which is adapted to have its marginal edgeportions supported by two vertical frame members and two horizontalframe members, one of the vertical members being shown at 11 and one ofthe horizontal members being shown at 12. The frame members 11, 12 areof identical construction, preferably in the form of a hollow extrusionwhich is cut to desired lengths for framing a panel member 10' of agiven size. As will be noted, the frame member extrusion is square incross-section and is provided in each of its four sides with alongitudinal channel 13 having an open outer side 13 and a relativelywider inner portion 13". The marginal edge portions of the panel member10 are received in the channels 13, the width of the outer side 13 ofthe channels corresponding to the thickness of the panel member so thatthe panel member is properly held in the channels of the frame members.The panel member 10 may be formed from any suitable material such aswood, composition board, glass, or the like.

In assembling the panel unit, one end of the-horizontal frame member 12is placed against one side of the vertical frame member 11 and aright-angled clip 14 is used for connecting the two frame memberstogether as will be apparent from FIGURES 1 and 4. The clip 14 includesone arm portion 14' which is slidably inserted into the inner portion13" of the channel 13 in the vertical frame member 11, and a second armportion 14" which is similarly inserted into the channel portion 13" ofthe horizontal frame member 12. The arm portions 14 and 14" of the clipare as wide as the inner portions 13" of the channels and the clipportion 14" adjacent the portion 14' is recessed at opposite sidesthereof as at 15 so that it is reduced in width at that point to permit,the clip to project laterally outwardly through the relatively narrowportion 13' of the channel in the vertical member 11. An assembled panelunit is shown, for example, at A in FIGURE 13, wherein the panel member10 is framed by a pair of vertical frame members 11 and by upper andlower horizontal frame members 12. Such a panel unit may be used eithersingly or in multiples connected together either co-planary or at rightangles to each other. For example, FIGURE 13 shows two of the panelunits A, A with two of their vertical frame members 11 in juxtaposed,contacting relation, which is also illustrated in FIGURE 1. A U- shapedclip 16 is utilized to connect the members 11 together at the upper endsthereof and a similar clip is used at the lower end of the members. Theclip 16 includes a bight portion 17 and a pair of side portions 18, theside portions 18 being slidably received in the inner portions 13" ofthe channels in the members 11 while the bight portion 17 straddles theends of the members, as is illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3.

The ends of the vertical frame members 11 are provided with caps 19, oneof which is best shown in FIGURE 5. The cap 19 is shaped so as to fitsnugly into the end portion of the frame members and is provided with anoutwardly projecting marginal flange 29 which seats against the end ofthe frame member when the cap is inserted therein. The cap is formedwith a central, vertical bore 21 which is plain in the instance of a capused at the upper end of the vertical member, and is screwthreaded inthe cap used at the lower end. The screwthreaded bore in the cap 19 atthe lower end of the frame member 11 adjustably receives ascrew-threaded stud 22 which projects downwardly from the cap and isequipped at its lower end with a suitable pad 23 to rest on the floor24, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 6. By adjusting the stud 22 in thelower cap 19, the panel unit may be leveled as required.

Also as shown in FIGURE 6, the plain bore in the cap 19 at the upper endof the frame member 11 slidably receives a stem or pin 25 which projectsoutwardly from the cap and is equipped at its upper end with a suitablepad 26 to engage the ceiling'27. The inner end of the pin 25 is providedwith a disc 28 which is contacted by one end of a compression spring 29,the latter being positioned inside the frame member 11 and having itslower end seated on a plate 30 which is supported inside the framemember by inwardly struck detents 31. It will be apparent from theforegoing that the spring 29 biases the pin 25 upwardly so as to pressthe pad 26 firmly against the ceiling 27 and thus hold the entire framemember 11 and the associated panel unit in place.

If the panel unit is high enough to reach from the floor to the ceiling,as for example, the panel units B in FIG- URE 13, a somewhat modifiedfloor and ceiling engaging means are employed as shown in FIGURES 7-10inclusive. In such event a floor rail 32 is placed below and in parallelwith the bottom horizontal frame member of' the panel unit, the lengthof the rail 32 corresponding to the width of the panel unit includingthe vertical frame members 11 thereof. a raised center portion 33provided with a guide channel 34 to slidably and rotatably receive anenlarged head 35 provided at the lower end of the adjusting stud 22', itbeing noted that the floor rail also has a pair of upstanding sidefianges 36. The panel unit is thus supported on the floor rail and apair of side plates 37 are provided to cover the space between the floorrail and the lower horizontal frame member of the panel unit. The sideplates 37 are equipped at the inside thereof with inwardly projectingtongues or strips 38 which, as is best shown in FIGURE 10, fit into thechannel 13 of the lower frame member 12 and lockably engage the same soas to hold the side plates assembled to the frame member, while thelower edge portions of the side plates fit inside the side flanges 36 ofthe floor rail 32. The ceiling engaging means at the top of the panelunit comprise a ceiling rail 32' and side plates 37 which are of thesame construction as the floor rail and side plates already described.The spring pressed pin 25 is equipped with a head 35' to engage thechannel 34 in the ceiling rail in the same manner as the head 35 of thestud 22' in the floor rail.

Another modified embodiment of the ceiling engaging means is shown inFIGURES 11 and 12, this being intended to be used for suspended ceilingsutilizing inverted T beams 38. In this arrangement clamps 39 are appliedat longitudinally spaced points to the beam 38, each clamp consisting ofa pair of complemental sections 39' which are clamped against the beamby a screw 40. A ceiling rail 41 underlies the clamps 39 and is pressedagainst the clamps by the spring loaded pin 25', the head 35' of whichis fitted into a channel 34 provided at the underside of the rail 41.

It will be apparent from FIGURES 13 and 14 that panel units of varioussizes and types may be constructed and assembled, as for example, thepanel units A which have the horizontal members 12 thereof spaced fromthe floor and ceiling; the panel units B which extend from the floor tothe ceiling; a panel unit C which extends from the fioor but has itsupper frame member 12 spaced downwardly from the ,ceiling; a panel unitD which has an extra horizontal member 12 spaced above the top member 12of the panel member so as to provide a The floor rail has window opening42; or a panel unit E which has a horizontal member 12 at the upper edgeof the panel member 10 and a glass panel 43 above the member 12, variousother arrangements being manifestly possible.

While in the foregoing there have been described and shown the preferredembodiments of the invention, various modifications may become apparentto those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly,it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure and variousmodifications may be resorted to, falling within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a paneling structure, the combination of a rectangular panelmember, a pair of elongated frame members for two adjacent side edges ofsaid panel member, each of said frame members comprising a hollowextrusion of a rectangular cross-section having a width substantiallygreater than the thickness of said panel member, each frame memberhaving each of its two opposite side walls extruded to form a centrallongitudinally extending channel of a T-shaped cross-section, saidchannel having a relatively narrow open outer side corresponding inwidth to the thickness of said panel and also having a relatively widerinner portion defined by a fiat inner wall member and right-angular sideedges, said frame members being disposed at right angles to each otherwith an end portion of one of them overlapping and abutting an end ofthe other at acorner of said panel member, one side edge of the panelprojecting into one channel of the overlapping frame member and abuttingthe flat inner wall member of the channel, an adjacent side edge of thepanel projecting into one channel of the overlapped frame member andabutting the fiat inner wall member of the channel, and a right-angledclip for connecting said frame members together at the corner of thepanel, said clip having one flat leg slidably inserted in the wide innerportion of said one channel of the overlapping frame member and a secondfiat leg slidably inserted in the wide inner portion of the otherchannel of the overlapped frame member, a portion of the second legadjacent the first leg of the clip being recessed at opposite sidesthereof to permit the second leg to project through the narrow outerside of said one channel of the overlapping frame member.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 together with a third framemember of identical construction as the first mentioned pair of framemembers, said third frame member being juxtaposed to and coterminal withsaid overlapping frame member, and a U-shaped clip for connecting thethird member and the overlapping member together, said U-shaped cliphaving a pair of flat legs slidably inserted in the wide inner portionof the other channel of the overlapping frame member and in the wideinner portion of an adjacent channel of the third frame memberrespectively, and also having a fiat bight portion spanning the narrowouter sides of the channels at the ends of the third and overlappingmembers.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,860,742 11/1958Waters 287-18936 2,914,146 11/1959 Conley 52-122 2,990,037 6/1961 Fowles52-241 X 3,159,250 12/1964 Wilson 52-301 3,161,264 12/1964 Isaacson52-301 3,189,140 6/1965 Luss 52-122 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,221,507 1/1960France.

RICHARD w. COOKE, JR., Primary Examiner.

1. IN A PANELING STRUCTURE, THE COMBINATION OF A RECTANGULAR PANELMEMBER, A PAIR OF ELONGATED FRAME MEMBERS FOR TWO ADJACENT SIDE EDGES OFSAID PANEL MEMBER, EACH OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS COMPRISING A HOLLOWEXTRUSION OF A RECTANGULAR CROSS-SECTION HAVING A WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLYGREATER THAN THE THICKNESS OF SAID PANEL MEMBER, EACH FRAME MEMBERHAVING EACH OF ITS TWO OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS EXTRUDED TO FORM A CENTRALLONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CHANNEL OF A T-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION, SAIDCHANNEL HAVING A RELATIVELY NARROW OPEN OUTER SIDE CORRESPONDING INWIDTH TO THE THICKNESS OF SAID PANEL AND ALSO HAVING A RELATIVELY WIDERINNER PORTION OF DEFINED BY A FLAT INNER WALL MEMBER AND RIGHT-ANGULARSIDE EDGES, SAID FRAME MEMBERS BEING DISPOSED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO EACHOTHER WITH AN END PORTION OF ONE OF THEM OVERLAPPING AND ABUTTING AN ENDOF THE OTHER AT A CORNER OF SAID PANEL MEMBER, ONE SIDE EDGE OF THEPANEL PROJECTING INTO ONE CHANNEL OF THE OVERLAPPING FRAME MEMBER ANDABUTTING THE FLAT INNER WALL MEMBER OF THE CHANNEL, AN ADJACENT SIDEEDGE OF THE PANEL PROJECTING INTO ONE CHANNEL OF THE OVERLAPPED FRAMEMEMBER AND ABUTTING THE FLAT INNER WALL MEMBER OF THE CHANNEL, AND ARIGHT-ANGLED CLIP FOR CONNECTING SAID FRAME MEMBERS TOGETHER AT THECORNER OF THE PANEL, SAID CLIP HAVING ONE FLAT LEG SLIDABLY INSERTED INTHE WIDE INNER PORTION OF SAID ONE CHANNEL OF THE OVERLAPPING FRAMEMEMBER AND A SECOND FLAT LEG SLIDABLY INSERTED IN THE WIDE INNER PORTIONOF THE OTHER CHANNEL OF THE OVERLAPPED FRAME MEMBER, A PORTION OF THESECOND LEG ADJACENT THE FIRST LEG OF THE CLIP BEING RECESSED AT OPPOSITESIDES THEREOF TO PERMIT THE SECOND LEG TO PROJECT THROUGH THE NARROWOUTER SIDE OF SAID ONE CHANNEL OF THE OVERLAPPING FRAME MEMBER.